Reasonable Interpretations
All students will understand and model the important attributes that people must have to contribute to an effective and productive community and the common good of all. Students will:
Fairfax County Public School students will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to participate in an informed, productive, and responsible manner as members of different types of communities. As students progress through our educational system the communities in which they participate expand from self, family, and school to locality, state, nation, and ultimately, a global community. Students and graduates will demonstrate their knowledge of exemplary citizenship and transfer that knowledge to their future communities. They will be informed participants in the democratic process who understand and respect different cultures and positively engage in the community.
Exemplary citizens:
- Interact fairly and responsibly with peers and adults
- Make informed choices
- Respect the rights and property of others
- See a variety of perspectives
- Understand and follow school rules as well as local, state, and federal laws
- Protect and embrace democracy
- Have knowledge of practices, symbols and historical events inherent in democratic societies
- Act as informed participants in the democratic process
- Engage through role plays and authentic experiences
- Gain knowledge of the democratic process through historical and current events
- Extend beyond themselves for the service of others
- Communicate their opinions respectfully
The Standards of Learning (SOL), in combination with the Fairfax County Public Schools Program of Studies (POS), provide a highly aligned and comprehensive approach to building the foundational knowledge that allows students to become responsible citizens. A student who has successfully completed the rigorous curriculum in FCPS, specifically in the content of Social Studies, will know and have the skills necessary to engage in their respective communities appropriately. However, knowledge without action is not enough.
3.1. Know and practice the duties, responsibilities, and rights of citizenship in a democratic society.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, and rights specific to a democratic society such as expressing ideas, acting responsibly toward self and others, making informed decisions, accepting accountability and consequences for actions, and practicing honesty and treating others with respect. Students will expand their understanding of the principles of citizenship in a democratic society to the context of their expanding horizons.
Students will learn and apply critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills to practice organizing their fellow citizens together around common concerns; give voice to their ideas, support, and objections; and persevere when faced with disagreement or opposition. They will understand that communities include people of diverse ethnic origins, customs, and traditions and understand that each person has the right to be treated fairly and respectfully.
3.2. Be respectful and contributing participants in their school, community, country, and world.
Students will apply their educational experiences through commitment and involvement in their current community. Students will actively seek to create meaning from a broad range of ideas from their learning, personal beliefs, values and responsibilities within their school, state, country, and world communities. Students will exercise opportunities to “give back” to the community. Students will understand how different forms of government meet, or don’t meet, the needs of their citizens. Further, students will engage in dialogue and action about issues that affect citizens in this country and abroad. Through action and advocacy students will understand why and how various forms of government operate, fostering a respectful approach to the world.
3.3. Understand the purpose, role, and means of interaction with the different levels of government.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure, duties and responsibilities of each branch of government at the community, state, and federal level. Additionally, they will have the communication skills needed to advocate for change by exercising their constitutional rights. With these skills students will be able to participate in mock and regular election campaigns, support a position, and interface with local, state and national politicians.
3.4. Exercise good stewardship of the environment
Students will respect their immediate surrounding and leave the environment in the same shape or better than they found it, understanding, respecting, and minimizing the long-term impact of today’s actions on tomorrow’s environment.
Indicators
March 22, 2007 - Goal 3. Responsibility to the Community
Monitoring Reports
The Board has established an annual calendar and work plan for its work, which includes scheduled monitoring throughout the year of each stated student goal, and scheduled monitoring of each operational expectation. The Superintendent will provide thorough and detailed monitoring reports as prescribed in the annual calendar. The Board will respond to each monitoring report indicating one of the following: 1.) acceptance of the report as evidence of satisfactory performance; or 2.) expectation for improvement based on the conclusion of a majority of the Board.
February 5, 2009 - Goal 3. Responsibility to the Community
April 24, 2008 - Goal 3. Responsibility to the Community